Santa's Last Present

To please his parents, Julian pretends to believe in Santa Claus for just one more year. So, he sends a letter to the North Pole requesting what his heart desires, a video game system. And, on Christmas morning, Julian awakes to find the video game system tucked snuggly under the tree. However, there is also another present accompanying it. A simple toy train. Julian's parents know nothing about the train, for they haven't bought it, the way they bought him the video game system. Julian's Father explains that it must have fallen out of Santa's sack, and that if no one claims the toy train within a year and a day, it is rightfully his. Throughout the entire year Julian spends every waking moment with the toy train. He even brings it on vacation with him. But as Christmas draws nearer, Julian begins to worry about the possibility of Santa Claus reclaiming the toy, and giving it to someone else. In this wonderful new children's book by Marie-Aude Murail and Elvire Murail, we are exposed to an unconventional holiday book, that poses a unique question, "Can Santa Claus really take back toys if they aren't intended for us?" Children will find the prose engaging, and the illustrations by Quentin Blake (best known for his illustrations of Roald Dahl children's books) enchanting. This is a wonderful new holiday book that is sure to please all this Christmas season. Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper